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Diagnostic Marker And Novel Therapeutic Target For Neurodegenerative Disorders

Technology Application

Schizophrenia afflicts 60 million persons worldwide and bipolar disorder affects an estimated 60 to 100 million people worldwide. With better understanding of how the CAG repeats relate to mental illnesses, researchers hope that more effective diagnostic tools and therapies may be developed.

Detailed Technology Description

Scientists at the University of California, Irvine, have isolated a candidate gene that may be responsible for increasing the risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This elusive gene encodes for a potassium ion channel that acts like an "off switch" by dampening electrical activity in neurons. It has been known that street drugs such as PCP create schizophrenia-like symptoms by blocking NMDA receptors in neurons. Over-activity of this potassium ion channel blocks the same NMDA receptors, which psychiatrists believe may cause schizophrenia.The gene sequence contains the trinucleotide CAG repeats thought to cause neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's Disease and ataxias. Although specific proteins are still unknown, scientists have implicated the CAG repeats in mental illnesses.While the gene itself may not predict a person's chances of developing schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, its presence combined with other genetic risk factors and environmental stresses may increase susceptibility to the diseases. UCI researchers and their collaborators found that in schizophrenia patients, there was a significant excess of genes containing the CAG repeat sequences, a possible contributing factor to the molecular origins of the illness. Similar results were found in studies involving bipolar disorder.

Supplementary Information

Patent Number: US7378496B2
Application Number: US2003722189A
Inventor: Chandy, K. George | Gargus, J. Jay | Gutman, George | Fantino, Emmanuelle | Kalman, Katarin
Priority Date: 15 Jul 1997
Priority Number: US7378496B2
Application Date: 24 Nov 2003
Publication Date: 27 May 2008
IPC Current: C07K0014705 | C12N000119 | C12N001512 | A61K003800 | A61K004800
US Class: 530350 | 514002
Assignee Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Title: hKCa3/KCNN3 small conductance calcium activated potassium channel: a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target
Usefulness: hKCa3/KCNN3 small conductance calcium activated potassium channel: a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target
Summary: USE Method (6) is particularly used to diagnose, or monitor, neuropsychiatric, neurological, neuromuscular and immunological disorders, specifically bipolar disease and schizophrenia. (I), (II) and Ab are used as reagents in these methods. (I) and (II) (including antisense, ribozyme and triplex-forming molecules), are used to treat such disorders, including by gene therapy methods; (A) and Ab may also be useful therapeutically. The transgenic animals are useful as models for studying these conditions and their treatments. Also contemplated (not claimed) is use of activators of (I) (which is expressed in neuronal cells, skeletal muscle, heart and lymphocytes) for preventing stroke and reducing neuronal injury following head trauma.
Novelty: New human small conductance calcium activated potassium channel-3 useful for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of particularly schizophrenia and bipolar disorders

Industry

Biomedical

Sub Category

Medical Composition

Application No.

7378496

Others

Tech ID/UC Case

18923/1997-307-0

Related Cases

1997-307-0

*Abstract

*IP Issue Date

May 27, 2008

*Principal Investigator

Name: George Chandy

Department:

Name: Emmanuelle Fantino

Department:

Name: J. Jay Gargus

Department:

Name: George Gutman

Department:

Name: Katalin Kalman

Department:

Country/Region

USA